Hezbollah says vote gains offer 'protection'

The leader of Hezbollah says gains in Lebanon's parliamentary elections will give "protection" to the Iran-backed militant group.

Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised speech Monday that the "mission is accomplished" after weeks of campaigning.

Hezbollah is considered a terrorist group by the US, but its political wing has long held seats in Lebanon's parliament and is part of Lebanon's outgoing coalition government.

Nasrallah did not say how many seats his group and its allies won, but early results show that they have won at least 43 of the legislature's 128 seats, giving them the power to veto laws.

Early results show that Hezbollah's bloc now has 13 members, one more than previously.

"There is a major political, parliamentarian and moral victory for the choice of the resistance," Nasrallah said.